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Vermont Evens Governors Cup Series, Downing Upper Valley 3-2

June 23, 2023 - New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


Vermont Mountaineers' TJ Williams at bat
Vermont Mountaineers' TJ Williams at bat
(Vermont Mountaineers, Credit: Cierra Loomis, Digital Media/Photography Director)

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. - The Vermont Mountaineers evened the Governors Cup Series with a thrilling 3-2 win over the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Friday night.

The Mountaineers, who improve to 10-3-1, took over first place in the North Division. The Nighthawks dropped to 7-4 on the season.

Vermont's offense came out early in the first inning, looking to take an early lead. Brandon Butterworth (Western Carolina) began the game with a walk, before Luke Cantwell(Pittsburgh) singled to deep left field. An infield single by George Rosales (Fairleigh Dickinson) loaded the bases. Carson Frye managed to get a groundout, getting the force out at home. Nathan Goranson (William & Mary) brought home the first run for Vermont as he reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Cantwell to score.

Aidan Risse (Bard) worked around a one-out single and wild pitch in the bottom of the first, striking out the final batter of the inning with a runner at third.

After a quick second for the Mountaineers, Risse was able to get out of a jam in the home half. He gave up a leadoff double, but a strikeout, flyout, and groundout ended the Nighthawks' threat.

Risse ran into trouble in the third after a one-out single and a pair of two-out walks loaded the bases. He was able to get out of it again to keep Vermont ahead by a run.

Both teams would rely on timely pitching and defense as the Vermont run in the first would be the only in the ballgame until the Upper Valley Nighthawks got their first run in the bottom of the eighth inning that tied the game at one.

Vermont loaded the bases in the ninth and scored two runs thanks to a single off the bat of Butterworth to go ahead by two runs heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Upper Valley scored a run to cut the lead to one and moved runners to first and third with two outs in the ninth. A diving catch by TJ Williams(Notre Dame) sealed the victory for Vermont to end the game.

Vermont hosts the Keene Swamp Bats on Saturday night with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. at Montpelier Recreation Field. The Vermont Department of Agriculture is the sponsor for Dairy Night.




Images from this story

Vermont Mountaineers' TJ Williams at bat
Vermont Mountaineers' TJ Williams at bat
(Cierra Loomis, Digital Media/Photography Director)		   

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